Week 77 - Life Isn't Perfect!

written: 6/20/2022

Week 77

It was a wonderful week! While it wasn't all rainbows and butterflies, I think it was pretty great! To end the week we got the best news, no transfers for my companion or me! I'll be staying in Frutillar and I'll be staying with Llanquihue along with being Elder Jara's last companion! We are super excited to continue working together, we expect big things to happen and many miracles. 

Speaking of miracles, Thais got baptized on Saturday!! After less than a month of knowing her, she was able to enter the waters of baptism Saturday and she was confirmed on Sunday. It has been a joy to watch her progress and to see her be so willing to change for the better. I know God has big things planned for her!! Funny little moment, as we were filling the font with the help of a member, I began to notice that the water was a little to high but didn't think too much of it and 20 seconds later I began to see the water seep into the hallway and that's when we scrambled to find the keys to shut off the water. The bathroom and part of the main hallway got soaked but thankfully it is tile and not carpet like most chapels I'm used to in the United States! Using many paper towels, the problem was fixed after 20 minutes. After that, 0 problems haha! I feel super blessed to just be a part of Thais' journey because after all, she was the one who came looking for us! We are also super excited for our upcoming baptism this Saturday and are hoping and praying all goes well! 

This week I also had to get my 4th covid vaccine here in Chile. Every time I get the vaccine it knocks me out the next morning. I was hoping it wouldn't happen and I was even preparing with tons of water, Gatorade and medicine. Well, I woke up the next morning and I remember just telling my companion "yeah nope I'll be sleeping you go do your own thing for now" and I was on and off sleeping until 4pm! Not fun! But thankfully it was just one day and the next day I was perfectly fine! 

On Wednesday I was able to experience probably the rainiest moments of my mission, and that's saying something knowing how much it rains here!! We had to travel to different sides of the town and I was even prepared with my rain pants, boots, waterproof backpack, I had the works! Yet after being in the torrential downpour for 1 hour straight it didn't matter! We were spending the entire night and next morning drying all our things with heaters and doing the best we could! But in the end, even after getting rejected by a less active member seeing us in the rain, we were able to have a great meeting with a recent convert and help him get excited about the temple and paying his tithing. In the end, it all worked out, even if I was soaking! 

The ups and downs are a part of the mission and just a general part of life. Most of my emails contain some ups and of course some downs. Life isn't perfect and it isn't easy. But it's definitely worth it and everything is there for us to learn and to grow! Nothings going to stop me! 

Love, Elder Collin Steele

pictures include: Baptism day for Thais; Lunch with Elder Jara, Me, Elder Quezada, Elder Crowton, Elder Pastene, and Elder Morris; Saying "see you later" to Elder Pastene; Enjoying good food!; Trying to dry out, just about everything, from the rain!; and Best investment ever for my mate!